Seven Directions Prayer | August 22, 2026 | Rev. Hassaun Ali Jones-Bey
- The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples
- 10 hours ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 45 minutes ago
I was asked by a couple of people to give a little background on the seven-directions prayers that I love to say. So, I looked into it and there’s a lot—a sermon’s worth and more. So here it is. The seven-directions prayer begins with a prayer to the four directions.
According to a prayer and description blog at the “waymarkers” web site—waymarkers reside on the unceded ancestral land of the Duwamish people in Seattle, WA, “The Blessing to the Four Directions has its roots in Native American culture.”
It is centered on the belief that human beings are tied to all things in nature. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the four cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. When one prays to the four directions, it is a way to call in Spirit through the unique energies of the directions. It is also a prayer that is resonate with the Celtic Caim Prayer, or the encircling prayer. This is a way of praying that calls in Sacred Presence all around one, and literally asks for Spirit to be present at the front, back, sides—even above and below—of an individual. It is a prayer of protection and sets the expectation that Creator God will be present as both a shield of protection, and the intention that one will now move through the day in a sacred rhythm.
The Seven Directions Prayer includes the directions of up (Cosmos), down (Earth), and within (Soulscape). This expands the prayerful imagination to include the universal principals of diversity, particularity, interiority, and communion. It honors the indigenous tradition of knowing that God’s presence is as diverse and particular as the directions, and invites the supplicant to ground their prayers in a place. [This more conceptual] Seven Directions Prayer weaves in the corresponding sacred energies of the elements, the seasons, and one’s emplacement within a sacred bioregion. It is a prayer that honors the rhythm of our days, the sacredness found within the seasons, and how that is reflected through our life’s journey. It also provides a way to speak an authentic land acknowledgment, honoring with the respect the traditional tribal lands upon which we live.
Many of these prayers are like a sun dance because they follow the clockwise path of the sun through the sky in the northern hemisphere, from rising in the East, to a high point at noon in the South, to setting in the West. They can also correspond to seasons. Let us go through each direction with the imagery and wording of a couple of different prayers.
Facing East, where many know the Great Spirit as Allah, we first quote from a prayer that speaks more conceptually: (https://www.waymarkers.net/blog/2020/9/21/rewilding-wheel-seven-directions-prayer)
We turn to the East, the direction of the rising sun, new beginnings, Spring Time and the element of Fire. We thank you Sacred Mystery for how you are revealed through the wild mercy of every morning, when the sun, our guiding light, warming fire, and inspiration for a new day rises yet again. And we acknowledge the shadow side of fire as it can cause destruction; our prayers and activism are with and behind those whose lives—human and more than human alike—are being impacted by forest fires even today. We bow to the East in gratitude and honor for this new day, and all the wisdom within this eastern direction.
Still facing east, we then quote from a Twin Star Tribe prayer that speaks with more imagery: (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/563d3a43e4b0d7c4028398d8/t/66f59773eb924e0860ad6fda/1727371124048/Seven+Directions+Prayer+-+Twin+Star+Tribe.pdf)
We call to and welcome the energy of the East, of the morning Sun, of Dawn and of the New Day, the energy of spring, and of new beginnings, the birth of babies and children, we call to the rising sun and the light that illuminates All. We invite Eagle, Hawk, Mourning Dove and the winged ones who fly closest to the heavens, and we welcome their insight and vision. We invite the energy of the snowdrops, dandelions and skunk cabbage. We welcome our well ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of the East. Blessed Be!
Facing South, where many know the Great Spirit as Olodumare, we first speak more conceptually:
We turn to the South, the direction of the powerful sun in its full force, growing awareness, summer time and the element of the warming and fecund earth. We thank you Sacred Mystery for how you are revealed through Earth, the primary incarnation, the place from which life is seeded and grown. We bow to the South in gratitude and honor for the work of this day, the particular purpose for which we each have been created, and all the wisdom within this southern direction.
Still facing south, we speak with more imagery:
We call to and welcome the fiery energy of the South. We invite in the heat of the noonday sun, the joy of adolescence and the place where the sun shines at its highest point in the sky. We call to the direction of love, creativity and energy and welcome the spirit of action and growth. We invite Coyote, Fox, Deer and all four-legged creatures. We invite the energy of hibiscus, holy basil and bee balm. We welcome all of our well ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of the South.
Facing West, where many call the Great Spirit Tao, we again speak first more conceptually:
We turn to the West, the direction of the setting sun, courage and introspection, becoming and belonging, autumn and the element of water. We thank you Sacred Mystery for how you are revealed through the watershed, seeing how we too are meant to be held within the flow of the essence of life. We bow to the West in gratitude and honor for another day well-lived, and as the sun sets below the horizon, and yellowed leaves fall to Earth, we lean into the grace and wisdom of what is for us when we let go and allow ourselves to be in the Flow.
Still facing west, we again speak with more imagery:
We call to and welcome the energy of the West, to the healing waters, the maturity of adulthood, to the place where the veil is thinnest and to the evening and twilight energies. We call to the medicine direction and the birthplace of emotion and to the gifts of healing. We invite Owl, Otter, Salmon and all of the creatures of the sea, lakes and streams, and we welcome their medicine of flexibility, grace and flow. We invite the energy of black cohosh, angelica and blue lotus. We welcome all of our well ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of the West. Blessed Be!
Facing North, where many call the Great Spirit Wakan Tanka, we speak once again first more conceptually:
We turn to the North, the direction of the sun at its coldest (and darkest), sage knowing of the elders, winter time, and the element of Air. We thank you Sacred Mystery for how you are revealed through air, breath, and wind—that you blow wisdom through the winter-time air like a generational seed, that will become planted in the coming months of spring. We bow to the North in gratitude and honor for the cover and quiet of night, for the inspiration of dreams, and for the much-needed sacred rhythm of dormancy and dark.
Still facing north, we speak once again with more imagery:
We call to and welcome the energy of the North, the earth that sustains us, the home of night, of the dark hour and the spirit of winter and the energy of rest and renewal. We welcome the wisdom of the Elders and ask for the blessing of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers. We invite Bear, Buffalo and Mouse and we welcome their gifts of generosity, the spirit of giveaway and the gift of story. We invite the energy of mariposa lily, witch hazel and pine. We welcome all of our well ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of the North. Blessed Be!
Facing up, where many call the Great Spirit Father Sky, we speak first more conceptually:
We reach to the cosmos, the home of the planets, stars, and galaxies; the creative cosmic reach of the Divine Spirit who flared all things forth. We thank you Sacred Mystery for how you are revealed through the principles of the universe: diversity, interiority and communion. We expand our reach upwards remembering and reclaiming our at-oneness- with all beings —in the sacred community of expansive life.
Still facing up, we speak more imagery:
We call to and welcome the energy and to the spirits of all that is Above. Father Sky, Star people, Cloud people, Planetary beings and the entire cosmos. We welcome the divine masculine energy of the grandfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles and sons. We welcome the energies and spirits of Father Sky and Grandmother Moon. We call to the Angels, elementals, devas, plant spirits, Ether and Spider Woman who weaves us all into connection with one another. We welcome all of well our ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of the Above. Blessed Be!
Facing down, where many call the Great Spirit Mother Earth, we speak first more conceptually:
We reach down to Earth, the holy humus from which all planetary life is derived. Here we humbly acknowledge the sacramentality and revelatory nature of our planet. Here we acknowledge that we are each guests upon the lands of host peoples, indigenous communities who have been living upon these various lands for time memorial. I acknowledge that I live and work upon the unceded territory of [indigenous people (native-land.ca)], a people who have been here, are here, and will continue into the future with their wisdom and worldviews —may that our presence of acknowledgment and gratitude be an honor to these host people. We thank you Sacred Mystery for Earth’s energy and nourishment for the plants, trees, animals, and humans. We acknowledge the inherent dignity of all beings and the divine presence that is made manifest through Earth and all her regulating systems. We bow to the ensouled Earth in gratitude and reciprocity.
Still facing down, we speak with more imagery:
We call to and welcome the energy of Mother Earth, the plant people, the stone and crystal people, the mycelium that holds us together and to the well spirits of all that is Below. We welcome the divine feminine energy and the spirit of our grandmothers, our mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters. We welcome the energies and creative spirits of Mother Earth as well as our guides and well ancestors. We honor and respect the reflection of all that is and give thanks to our shadow. We welcome all of our well ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of Below. Blessed Be!
Facing within, where many call the Great Spirit Ori, we speak first more conceptually:
We place our hands on our hearts, honoring the divine spark in our core, the presence of the holy within that honors the holy throughout. We thank you Sacred Mystery for your light, power, wisdom and guidance that you placed within each of us.
Still facing within, we speak with more imagery:
We call to and welcome the energy of all our relations and to the place within. The one heart. One love. The union of all. We give thanks for each living being on this planet and for the ancient heartbeat that connects us. We welcome the positive, fluid, non-binary energy and the energy of the two-spirits. We invite in the universal soul energy and the spirit of the One Heart. We welcome the gifts of love, unity and compassion for all. We welcome all of our well ancestors and loved ones who dwell in this direction and ask that you join us and bless our circle with the positive energies and spirits of within. Blessed Be!
These are not the only interpretations. Some don’t follow the sun, as in Mayan prayers to the elements; where the fire is in the east, earth is in the south, the water is in the west, and air is in the north, power is above, compassion is below, the light is within, as in the video below.
Also, in the northern hemisphere we turn in the direction we call clockwise. In the southern hemisphere we would turn counter clockwise. The noon day sun would be in the north.
So, I call this a dance because to me it is a sun dance—not to music (which is a modern culture word that didn’t exist in most ancient languages), but to ring-shout drum, dance and song, which is where the Negro spirituals came from. Ring-shout counter-clockwise drum, dance, and song in nature, differences (spirituals) depending on where (and whom) you are.
The movement of the sun leads one in a dancing, drumming and singing metaphor for the One who is beyond words or imagery. This for me is the magic of all religions, of all peoples. It is why I like the seven directions prayer so much. You turn to the seven directions, and in the ring-shout dance, you are also in the seven directions.
As in Howard Thurman’s interpretation of the spiritual Wade in the Water: “at the heart of life there is a Heart.” Or as in Thurman’s search for common ground, there is an ever expanding community: the ring shout, the spirituals, Black music, American music and world music… but that’s another sermon.
May we individually and collectively know and become the divinely healing wholeness, the sacred and secular oneness of each and all directions, of all space and time throughout a sacred and secular cosmos of peace and blessings—in which we continually seek and grow in knowledge and wisdom of ourselves and of each other. Amen, Ameen, Ashay, and Let it be.
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